Fence wire stretcher



FENCE WIRE STRETCHER Filed Nov. 3, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A iiorneysSept. 28, 1937. E. BOCKENHAUER 2,094,166

FENCE WIRE STRETCHER Filed Nov. 3, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Attorneys vSept. 28, 1937. E. BOCKENHAUER FENCE WIRE STRETCHER Filed Nov. 5, 1956 ssheets s'neet s Inventor A iiorneys Patented Sept. 28-, 1937 omrsostarts rarest orrics Edward Bockenhauer, Waterman, 111. v ApplicationNovember 3, 1936, Serial No. 109,013

numerous forms and types of tools.

1 Claim.

This invention relates to implements and tools now frequently referredto in the trade as fence wire pullers, stretchers, and the like, and itohviously has reference to a device which is attachable to a'fence Wireso that it may be drawn taut and satisfactorily nailed or otherwiseanchored to the post.

Needless to say, I am aware that the art to which the invention relatesis characterized by It follows, therefore, that the present inventionrelates to a tool possessed of distinctively new mechanicalcharacteristics and expressly designed so that the harder the clamp ispulled, the tighter it grips the wire.

Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a clampunit composed of a pair of companion grips pivotally attached togetherat one end and having their intermediate portions fashioned to securelymaintain the wire therebetween, the free ends of said members havingassociated therewith chain accommodation means providing the desiredprogressive take-up and clamping action.

Although novelty is predicated upon the central formation of theco-acting clamping surfaces between the companion or complementalgripping units, the chief novelty resides in the free end constructionof said units, wherein one unit is provided with a self-adapting rollerand attaching links which, when associated with the pull chain providesthe desired friction grip tightening action.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a tool or implement constructedin accordance with the present invention, showing the manner in which itis connected with the wire and block and tackle power appliance.

Figure 2 is a View on an enlarged scale which may be designated as a topplan view, that is, a view looking down on top of the structure seen inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a proportionately enlarged side elevational View disclosingthe jaw formation and illustrating the inserted position of the free endof the fencewire.

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged cross sectional views taken on the planesof the lines t4 and 5--5 respectively of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional View which may Reference is had as amatter of convenience, to

the enlarged showing of the tool illustrated in Figure 3. Here, and asbefore indicated, the major part of the structure is made up of a pairof complemental lever-type frictional gripping jaws 8 and 9 toaccommodate and receive the strand or length of fence wire ii]. In sideelevational View these parts 8 and 9 represent compound curves.Moreover, each lever is of onepiece formation and includes a plateportion and a reinforcing rib i i. The left hand end portions of thelevers are pivotally joined together as indicated at Hand one lever isoffset as denoted at E3 in Figure 7 to permit this connection to besatisfactorily made. The jaw unit a includes longitudinally spaced wiregripping surfaces [4 and i5, and an intervening downwardly bowed centralportion it which functions as an adapter for the convexedcorrespondingly curved portion l'i constituting the central portion orpart of the jaw unit 8. The latter unit 8 also includes the surfaces Maand lta, which match with the gripping surfaces l4 and IE to securelymaintain the wire therebetween. The wire is held against sidewisedisplacement through the instrumentality of a pair of spaced parallelupstanding flanges l8 formed on the unit 9 and bridging the clearancepocket Hi.

It will be observed that the free swingable end portions of the jawunits 8 and 9 are directed laterally in diverging relationship. The endsI9 of the unit 9 terminate in an offset terminal 20 suitably positionedto accommodate a pair of links 2 l The links are disposed in spacedparallel order and pivotally attached to said terminal 20 as indicatedat the point 22. Between the free swingable ends of the links is anidling roller 23 for cooperation with the pull chain 24. One link of thechain 2 3 is releasably engageable with the eye 25 formed on the freeend of the laterally directed end portion 25 of the lever 8. The numeral2i designates a slot in the eye which allows the chain links to bereleasably connected therewith. The hook 28 on the free end of the chainis engageable with the conventional block and tackle assembly 29 whichis in turn connected with a suitable cable leading to a winding andreeling device or suitable Windlass (not shown). By inserting the fencewire between the jaw units 8 and 9, it is firmly held between thecooperating surfaces M, Ma, l5 and l5a. The wire bridges the gap formedby the receding central curved portion [6 and is forced down into thisby the convexed clamping member IT. The result is that these co-actingfeatures unquestionably grip the wire with requisite certainty to guardagainst accidental slippage.

The flanges l8 serve to not only accommodate and hold in place swingablelever unit or jaw 8, but they also facilitate threading and placing thefence wire in place. The laterally directed free ends I9 and 26 disposedin diverging relationship, allow the links and roller means to cooperatewith the chain 24 and the eye 25 in producing the desired progressivetake-up action. Consequently, the tighter the chain is pulled, thetighter the jaws 8 and 9 are clamped against the wire. It followstherefore, that the wire can be safely and tautly stretched to permit itto be nailed or otherwise anchored on the fence post.

Novelty apparently resides in the serpentine curvature of the jawmembers 8 and 9. That is to say,byusing a compound curve in thelongitudinal formation of these parts, the desired co-acting clampingsurfaces are provided therebetween to insure effective binding of thewire. The stabilizing flanges 18 also contribute their proportionateshare to the feature of strength and durability and safe maintenance ofthe wire. The cardinal feature of the invention however resides in thefree end formation of the lever-like jaw and the chain and pulleyarrangement co-operable therewith. The so-called pulley, made up of theparts 2| and 23 forms a sort of a floating abutment which exerts thedesired cam action to effectively bind the jaws together.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawingswill enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore,a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within thefield of invention claimed will be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

A clamp for stretching fence wire comprising a pair of complementalclamping jaws, respectively, pivotally connected together atcorresponding ends and provided intermediate their ends with concave andconvex mating portions, respectively, for gripping the wiretherebetween, a pair of side flanges, respectively, on the jaw havingthe concave portion, for guiding the wire into position over the latterand the other jaw into closing position, said jaws having divergent.

free ends, a pair of opposed links pivotally connected at one end to thefree ends of one jaw, a pulley mounted between the other ends of saidlinks, and a pull chain secured to the free end of the other jaw andextended between said links for engagement with said pulley, said linksbeing shorter than the distance between the free ends of the jaws in theclosed position of the latter. EDWARD BOCKENHAUER.

